Fake My Space / Facebook Issues

Fake My Space / Facebook Issues

Are Educators at risk?

As I tried to put my thoughts together for this blog it was such a challenging task. Challenging because the readings were very controversial and as an educator myself I was very concerned on how students disregard us through the use of social networks.

            The first Amendment seems to play a crucial role in this issue; The “Freedom of Speech”.    So it is ok for students to voice their opinions in a very derogatory way against educators because of the first Amendment. The posting Fake MySpace leads to expulsion; lawsuit http://mycrimespace.com/2008/02/22/fake-myspace-leads-to-expulsion-lawsuit/trackback/ was very disturbing to read. The student posted inappropriate pictures of his principal/ school leader and was expelled. The parents filed a lawsuit stating that their son’s rights were violated. In other words he was just freely expressing himself. WOW!!! How can ones rights be violated after blatantly disrespecting the principal openly to the world. What message are we sending to our children?

I believe the level of respect for educators is decreasing daily. Educators should be respected by students, not just in schools but even outside of schools.  Students should never think it is acceptable to use the internet to voice their opinions about their educators. They should be held accountable for what they do online.

Their arguments maybe “I did not use the school’s computer, I did not say anything to cause disruption at the school, I used a fake name, I did not say anything to jeopardize his /her job.”  http://www.splc.org/news/newsflash.asp?id=1812

Students are so exposed today, that it really bothers me that they are using the internet /social networks for the wrong reasons. As educators do we have rights? Who is out there as our protectors? So should  I feel scared after disciplining a student because the reaction maybe a slanderous post on My Space or Facebook?   An administrator was not even conscious of the fact that a fake MySpace account was created with false statement about her, the school and even the students. http://www.adn.com/2009/04/04/v-printer/748805/abusive-myspace-page-draws-principals.html .How can students be so heartless and inconsiderate?

Educators need to careful

Many school districts are encouraging educators NOT to have students as their friends on social networks such as Facebook and MySpace. Some teachers may say they liked being connected to their students online to monitor them or build a good relationship with them.  I do endorse what school districts are doing. I do not think it is appropriate for educators and students to engage in social networking. Educators’ personal lives should not be entangled with their profession. I do not need to build a relationship with my students through social networks and my responsibility is to monitor them at school not what they do at home or in the presence of their parents.

Educators also need to be very careful as to what the post on their  Facebook page or MySpace page. Postings should reflect our characters. I definitely do not agree with a teacher or administrator who posts negative messages about students and other teachers. If educators are displeased with a student’s behavior the internet is not the place to showcase your thoughts or feelings. A math and science teacher was fired after she called her students ‘Germ Bags” on Facebook. A teacher was suspended after posting a note saying he “hated his students and his school. This is where it becomes controversial; one might say the teacher has the right to “freedom of speech” I totally agree but there is a saying that say “Character is higher than intellect.” ~Ralph Waldo Emersons, Having a good character is better than losing your respect and your integrity.

Some teachers and administrators are getting themselves in trouble with the law because they are friends with minors on social networks and it is alleged that they are using inappropriate languages. http://www.networkworld.com/news/2010/102810-teachers-students-facebook.html

School Policy on Social Networks

My school has not openly discussed the use of school networking between teachers and students. However the administrative staff along with the technology facilitator continues to hold workshops educating parents and teachers on internet safety, internet protection, and the use of social networks. One of the issues they stress on is making sure that our Facebook, MySpace and other social networks are very private. Sometimes students have access to our accounts because we do not check to ensure that our personal lives are not open to the world. A surprisingly larger number of school employees do not know about their settings and they assume (their information) is private.  One elementary teacher wrote on her profile “I only have two feelings hunger and lust.” Her settings were not private and one of her parents saw her post and reported it to the principal. The teacher was reprimanded and almost lost her job. Another teacher had photos on her Facebook account posing with a bottle of tequila and dressed in a skimpy bathing suit. Again her FB account was not private. She was displaced because she was a relatively new teacher on a probationary contract.

            Educators should be aware of the negativities that are associated with social networks. Therefore it is very essential to be seek information and  know what is out there in this global networking world. http://doug-johnson.squarespace.com/blue-skunk-blog/2009/8/7/guidelines-for-educators-using-social-networking-sites.html

 This YouTube link is interesting. It gives you an insight of what happens when you put all your information on  social network sites. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7gWEgHeXcA

Conclusion

Social networking can be a positive tool to use even in the classrooms.  Before the internet, life was good nobody knew your business or no one found/ had any information about you. Things have changed over the past years. Therefore it is very important as educators to monitor our social network sites, making sure settings are privateand  students are  unable to find information that they do not need to know about us. Also I honestly do not know how we can stop scandals against educators. All we have to do is to be CAREFUL.

Cyber Bullying

                                                        Cyber Bullying

                                                   A MOTHER'S STORY

It is such a delight as a parent to come home from a hard day’s work and be greeted by your own child/ children with such love and joy.

This did not happen on February, 2009. As I opened the door, I sensed an air of gloominess hanging over my house.

“Megan,” I called but got no response.  It was very quiet and still. I kept on calling three more times, still no answer.

Worried and concerned, I walked to her room with my heart beating like an express train. I opened the door and found my energetic, lively, and friendly daughter trembling with fear and weeping uncontrollably.

“What’s wrong Meg?” I asked. No words were spoken. A few seconds later she reluctantly pointed to her computer. I walked over to her desk and clicked on the mouse. It was nerve rocking, horrible and very disgusting to see what was written on my daughter’s My Space page. It damaged my daughter’s self-esteem, character, and most of all her future. She is no longer around to enjoy life to the fullest. (Based on a true story). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7WllPVA-A4

Cyber Bullying

One might asked, what could have caused a teen aged girl so much pain and hurt? My answer is CYBER BULLYING.

I randomly picked five (5) students and asked them what they know about cyber bullying. Two (2) out of the five said I don’t know, one (1) said, “When you bullying someone,” and the other two (2) were much more aware and said, “When someone use the internet and say bad things about others.”

Cyber bullying is the use of technology to harass, threaten, embarrass, or target another person. By definition, it occurs among young people. When an adult is involved, it may meet the definition of cyber-harassment or cyber-stalking, a crime that can have legal consequences and involve jail time.

Sometimes cyber bullying can be clear-cut. For example, leaving overly cruel cell phone text messages or mean notes posted to Web sites. Other acts are less obvious, such as impersonating a victim online or posting personal information or videos designed to hurt or embarrass another child.

Cyber bullying also can happen accidentally. The impersonal nature of text messages, IMs, and emails make it very hard to detect the sender's tone — one teen's joke or sense of humor could be another's devastating insult. Nevertheless, a repeated pattern of emails, text messages, and online posts is rarely accidental. http://www.dosomething.org/tipsandtools/11-facts-about-cyber-bullying

Digging Deeper

I was very amazed after reading the statistics on the Eleven Facts about Cyber Bullying.  http://www.dosomething.org/tipsandtools/11-facts-about-cyber-bullying.   As an educator, it is so touching to see how many of our students are affected emotionally, physically mentally and if I may say spiritually by cyber bullying.  Many kids and teens who are cyber bullied are reluctant to tell a teacher or parent, often because they feel ashamed of the social stigma, or because they fear their computer privileges will be taken away at home. The signs that a child is being cyber bullied vary, but a few things to look for are:

1.   Signs of emotional distress during or after using the Internet.

2.   Withdrawal from friends and activities.

3.   Avoidance of school or group gatherings.

4. Slipping grades and "acting out" in anger at home.

5. Changes in mood, behavior, sleep, or appetite.

We need to be cognizant of the fact that cyber bullying may be affecting either to the students that we teach a relative of ours or even our own colleagues. No longer limited to schoolyards or street corners, modern-day bullying can happen at home as well as at school — essentially 24 hours a day. And, for students who are being cyber bullied, it can feel like there's no escape.

Severe cyber bullying can leave victims at greater risk for anxiety, depression, and other stress-related disorders. In very rare cases, some students have turned to suicide.

Teachers too are sometimes victims of cyber bullying. Disruptive students often think that it is acceptable to be disrespectful to teachers through the use of the internet. Their excuse is I did not use the school’s computer I used mine. As teachers should we become complacent and encourage such abuse and continue to teach these students? (Food for thought).

  This is such a very crucial topic to discuss. The 1^st Amendment

clearly speaks about the right for “freedom of speech”. Does the freedom of speech gives the right to be disrespectful, harmful, and unfriendly?  Does the “freedom of speech gives the right to be hateful, mean and unscrupulous?

https://blackboard.vcu.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_tab_group_id=_2_1&url=%2Fwebapps%2Fblackboard%2Fexecute%2Flauncher%3Ftype%3DCourse%26id%3D_77574_1%26url%3D

Some states have seen the dangers that cyber bullying has caused, therefore they have tried to implement rules to prevent this gruesome act. http://www.unc.edu/courses/2010spring/law/357c/001/Cyberbully/state.html

It's essential that the whole school community understands what cyber bullying is and what measures are in place to prevent it and, if it does take place, what action should be taken.

The School’s Policy and Protection of Teachers and Students

The school district and my school work very closely in protecting our students as it relates to the use of the internet at school. Parents are asked to sign an internet permission slip, giving students the right to have internet access at school. Also teachers and students are only allowed to visit educational websites aligned with the Standard Course of Study. Because of this, cyber bullying is very minimal on the school grounds. Most of the social networking sites such as Facebook, YouTube, and My Space are blocked. Students and teachers do not have access.  

What can we do to help?

Let’s face it the schools/ school districts may not be able to control cyber bullying. However students should feel comfortable to report any incident to their teachers, administrators or parents if they believe  they are victims. If a student reports to a teacher or administrator about being cyber bullied, the matter should not be taken lightly. I do believe that a thorough investigation MUST be done, contact the relevant authorities and endeavor to seek protection for the student. By getting involved, you may be saving a life.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yhn5ZEHFKWA

This You Tube video gives an insight on how schools and    school districts in  New Jersey are working together to prevent cyber bulling.

The mantle however falls directly on parents. Parents should be aware of what is happening in the social networking era. If a parent should discover that his/her child is being cyber bullied, be sure to discuss how it feels. Offer assurance that it's not your child's fault. Talking to teachers or school administrators also may help.

Many schools, school districts, and after-school clubs have established protocols for responding to cyber bullying; these vary by district and state. But before reporting the problem, let your child know that you plan to do so, as he or she could have concerns about "tattling" and might prefer that the problem be handled at home.

Other measures to try:

1.      Block the bully. Most devices have settings that allow you to electronically block emails, IMs, or text messages from specific people.

2.      Limit access to technology. Although it's hurtful, many children who are bullied can't resist the temptation to check Web sites or phones to see if there are new messages. Keep the computer in a public place in the house (no laptops in children's bedrooms, for example) and limit the use of cell phones and games. Some companies allow you to turn off text messaging services during certain hours, which can give bullied kids a break.

 3. A parent must know your child's/ children’s online world. They should as frequently as possible check the postings and the sites children visit, and be aware of how the children spend their time online.

4. Talk to your child or children about the importance of privacy and why it's a bad idea to share personal information online, even with friends.

5. Encourage children to have to safeguard passwords.

Conclusion

As educators, we should constantly remind our students to be cyber safe. These are some important tips you can share with your students as they continue to practice cyber safety.

1.   Never post or share your personal information online (this includes your full name, address, telephone number, school name, parents’ names, credit card number, or social security number) or your friends’ personal information.

2.   Never share your internet passwords with anyone, except your parents.

3.   Never meet anyone face-to-face whom you only know online.

4.   Talk to your parents about what you do online.

REMEMBER THE INTERNET CAN BE YOUR BEST FRIEND, AND ALSO YOUR WORSE ENEMY.

Reflection on my Tutorial - Google Maps

                                                 Reflection on my Tutorial - Google Maps

“If we do not rise to the challenge of our unique capacity to shape our lives, to seek the kinds of growth that we find individually fulfilling, then we can have no security: we will live in a world of sham, in which our selves are determined by the will of others, in which we will be constantly buffeted and increasingly isolated by the changes round us.” -- Nena O'Neil

This quotation spoke directly to me as I gathered my thoughts and my ideas for my tutorial on Google Maps. I saw this assignment as being very challenging and “nerve rocking”. It took me at least three to four days to start my preparation. Some days I cried, some days I was feeling confident and some days I just did not know what to do.

I felt like giving up and “just throwing in the towel”. I did not know that was going to be able to meet the requirements and even the dead line. I was also confused; I did not know what aspects of Google Maps to cover and how well I would be able to deliver a good tutorial to my fellow colleagues.

“Success never falls in the beaten path. You have to blaze through a new track in order to create your destiny”. That is exactly what I did. I decided to unfold a new track in my approach to the assignment in order to allow my creativeness to gleam.

I tried various web sites but was not that successful. Not being a quitter, I decided to try You Tube. I saw so many videos on Google Maps but the one that stood out most most was the video post done by Brandon. He was of great help and was able to give me ideas on how to do the tutorial. Also I got help from my school technology facilitator, Mr. Williams, my fourth grade team, and my cousin Ms. Palmer.

I worked three days nonstop, sleepless nights, over ten attempts to record, you name it. It was not an easy road but I made it. I did my tutorial fighting against all odds.

I have grown to appreciate technology and what it has to offer. WEB 2.0 and WEB TOOLS are in effect and may replace textbooks, whiteboards, notebook papers, and other materials that have no form of technology use. Our classrooms will be transformed to 21st century learning, and technology will be the way to go.

I will always have an open mind and be ready to learn more technology and not only learn, but use technology.

Our students are exposed to various upscale phones, the internet, various web tools, and also web 2.0. As a teacher and a prospective administrator I will definitely stretch my teaching styles in order to gain more knowledge on technology rather than be complacent and watch it pass by. Technology is a fun topic that covers a wide range of interesting areas including the Internet, video games, computers, cell phones, robots and more. These technology facts are perfect for students; the imperturbable information will keep them interested as they learn some important ideas and concepts along the way.

A tutorial is one method of transferring knowledge and may be used as a part of learning. More interactive and specific than a book or a lecture; a tutorial seeks to teach by example and supply the information to complete a certain task. . Tutorials are very informative, visual, manipulative and just pure fun.

I think I would love to do another tutorial for my students. This will help me improve my strengths and work on my weak areas. I enjoyed reading my fellow colleagues’ tutorials and also I really learned from them.

 I applaud those schools that are on that technology path to expand learning. With the implementation of technology in schools, (using various web tools and making connections with Web2.0) students will become high achievers and this will be evident in their grades/scores on assessments.

Finally I believe it is very important to give students guidelines, so that they will be able to meet the teachers' expectations. Not all students have internet access, computers at home or the ability to use the web effectively. Therefore guiding these students, will enable them to explore, interact, and overcome the obstacles/ challenges of  using the web tools. Also  they should be motivated to discover what is web 2.0.

http://www.ncrel.org/sdrs/areas/issues/methods/technlgy/te800.htm

Google Maps Tutorial

This is the video that I had used to get Ideas for my tutorial on Google Maps